Sangamam
Aptly named Sangamam, the extension project of Stella Maris College, harmonizes and acts as a confluence of ideas, enactment and empowerment of the Kasimode fishing community in North Chennai. The project has, since its inception in 1994, wielded tremendous change and advancement in the area of community development and continues to do that and more with partnerships as prestigious as ActionAid ( www. actionaid .org ) , Caritas ( www. caritas .org ), IFCU - International Federation of Catholic Universities ( www. fiuc .org ) and The Royal Danish Embassy ( www.denmark india .com )
Stella Maris College's mission has been the social sensitisation of its students and those associated actively with the college. Through Sangamam , we continue to realize this mission and grow as people and responsible human beings part of the society we live in. Sangamam has been the site for numerous exploratory studies and because of the commendable work of our grass root level staff, the community has responded well and continues to be an active part of the initiatives of this project in the community.
A strong network with development organisations both government and non- governmental such as:
Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) ( www.tn.gov.in )
Corporation of Chennai ( www.chennaicorporation.com )
Local panchayats
Arunodaya
Address Centre
A result of this network partnership has crystallized into organising:
- Transit Schools – 50 children
- Tailoring unit – 25 adolescent girls
- Tuition centres – 40 children
- Self help groups for women – 66 groups
- Youth group – 150 youth
- Field training for social work students students (Madras Christian College, Loyola College, S.C.P Jain College, Vaishnav College & Stella Maris College, Chennai) – 23 social work students
- Disability Group – 85 members
We attempt to offer you an understanding of the extent of relief, rehabilitation and development work initiated and sustained by Sangamam by giving you a chronological summary:
- Stella Maris College undertook an International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) funded research from 1992 (prior to formation of Sangamam) till 1998 on ‘Culture & Drug Use/ Abuse in Asian Setting'
- Worked in conjunction with the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) on the ‘Child Labour Elimination ‘ Project from 1997 to 2002
- Aids Awareness Programme in partnership with CARITAS, India was initiated in 1998 and continued till 2000.
- A research study initiated in the community under the funding of International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), about the 'felt' and 'real' needs of the residents, led to needed intervention, subsequent revision of intervention and sustainability establishment. This study spanned a total of 4 years commencing in 1999 and continuing till 2002.
- In December 2002, when a fire destroyed the homes of 400 families in the focus area, the college organized a fête and generated funds to buy household articles for the affected families, as well as to help the patients of Cancer Hospital, Adyar.
- Since 2003, Sangamam is in close working partnership with the Corporation of Chennai for the Alternative Schools project called the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme.
- In December 2004, when the entire world was shocked by the magnitude of human suffering and loss of life caused by the Tsunami, Sangamam played a significant part in the relief efforts to the highly affected fishing community of Royapuram both in distribution of essentials immediately following the disaster as well in the continued process of rehabilitation and rebuilding.
- A special mention of our Tsunami related relief effort facilitated by the Royal Danish Embassy - A total of 4691 families of people of the Tsunami affected Pattinampakkam at Santhome area were the primary beneficiaries of the relief efforts spear headed by the staff and students of the Dept of Social Work. The project further supported Tharangampadi (Tranquebar) of Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.
- In June 2005 when a fire broke out at Kargil Nagar where tsunami victims were relocated from Sangamam affiliated communities, with monetary assistance provided by ActionAid, the staff of Sangamam worked relentlessly to alleviate the crisis.
- On June 25th 2005 Dr. Sr. Annamma Phillip,f.m.m, the Principal of Stella Maris College & Dr. Sr. Florine Monis f.m.m Superior, Stella Maris convent were closely involved with the Sangamam staff in the distribution of school uniforms, books and bags to the Tsunami affected children of Kasimode with funding help from ActionAid.
- A forum for children was set up in July 2005 and a total of 600 children are organised in the forum for recreational and educative purposes as well as providing a platform for voicing their opinions
- Orientations for the facilitators of the Children's forum are conducted on a monthly basis. A Child Friendly Space concept is being introduced in the community
- 68 women participated in an income generations programme for the self help groups on the needs expressed by the women – agarbathi and candle making, jam and squash preparation (November 2005) etc
- Livelihood regaining efforts of Sangamam is reaching its conclusion phase whereby 150 families are net distribution beneficiaries , 225 families have benefited from monetary aid for engine repair , 5 families are catamaran repair beneficiaries till December 2005
Programmes Conducted:
- From 2000, as part the enrolment programme for the Transit Schools, awareness building in the community through public campaigns in several areas is performed every June.
- In 2005, for duration of 10 days, 87 children belonging to our focus community were involved in a summer camp.
- Every December 3rd since 2001, a programme in conjunction with The Shakthi Foundation (9, Manickeswari Road, Kilpauk, Chennai. Phone: (+91) (44) 26611213) is conducted for the disability group which comprises of 80 members. The programme is basically for recreation to make the disabled youth of several communities feel special and loved.
- For the past 6 years, on March 10th, celebrating Women's Day, programmes fostering empowerment are conducted in the community specifically for the Self-Help groups.
- Through awareness campaigns, AIDS day on December 1st is observed in the community.
ActionAid India is working very closely with Sangamam staff to reach out to the Tsunami affected people at Kasimode since December 2004 . The rehabilitation efforts continue to progress well and Stella Maris College is privileged to be working in conjunction with ActionAid towards Tsunami relief work. A publication with the work done in the area, the response and the current alleviation of the situation, is ready and due to be published in 2006.
Disability Group
Beneficiaries of Net Distribution
Personality Development Training
Interaction with other NGO's
Visitors to Sangamam
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"To be with, feel with and work with
the community for better quality of life"
is our mission
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